Possible drowning reported at Lake Mendocino

A 19-year-old man was reported missing and presumed drowned at Lake Mendocino Tuesday afternoon, according to the Ukiah Valley Fire District.

UVFD Division Chief Sid Dearborn said about 3:14 p.m. May 14 a group of people swimming near the South Boat Ramp reported that one of their group was missing.

Dearborn said the group of four friends was visiting the lake from out of the area and began swimming away from the shore below the parking lot to a small island in the lake.

Before reaching the island, two men headed to the rocky shore to the right, as the missing man reported becoming tired. One of the men made it to the rocky shore, the missing man did not.

Personnel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers searched the water in a rescue boat and a Cal Fire helicopter searched above the lake for the man. Shortly before 4 p.m., however, Dearborn said the man had been in the water for more than 40 minutes and had likely expired.

A dive team was called to respond and Dearborn said they would be setting up a grid to begin searching the lake for a body.